Concerns over human rights will not be a problem in Beijing's bid for the Summer Olympics of 2000, the city's mayor said yesterday.

"To act in strict accordance with the Olympic charter, [site selection] should not be influenced by political factors," Chen Xitong said at a news conference to formally announce that the city will bid for the Olympics.

Chen was responding to questions about the wide condemnation of Beijing's bloody crackdown on pro democracy demonstrators in 1989.

Pro football

Minnesota Vikings kicker Donald Igwebuike testified yesterday that prosecutors misinterpreted innocent telephone conversations to link him to a scheme to smuggle $1 million worth of heroin from Nigeria.

Igwebuike explained for more than three hours how the tape-recorded conversations are only about speaker stands, a love letter and money he is owed -- not about heroin or drug profits. "It's not heroin," Igwebuike said. "That's not what I was talking about."

Prosecutors are relying heavily on the conversations between Igwebuike and the government's star witness, Ibezim Ofedu, to show the player masterminded an alleged Nigeria-to-Florida smuggling scheme.

* Former West Virginia quarterback Major Harris doesn't want tplay out his one-year option with the Canadian Football League's British Columbia Lions. "I'm trying to get out of the contract," Harris said.

Harris played in four games as a backup to Doug Flutie, who signed with the Lions after Harris.

Boxing

Santos Cardona knocked Kevin Pompey down and out with a thundering overhand right late in the eighth round last night in Albany, N.Y., to capture the Intercontinental Boxing Council welterweight title.

College basketball

Four Arkansas basketball players, who sources say were suspended from the team for a year following a sexual incident, filed appeals with the school yesterday, the University of Arkansas system president said.

B. Alan Sugg said he will make a decision on the appeals by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. "I have complete authority," he said when asked if he had the power to overturn the disciplinary action taken on Monday.

* Vicky Bullett, formerly of Maryland, is among 29 players invited to the Pan American Games Trials for the women's basketball team scheduled for May 30-June 2 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

College lacrosse

Top-ranked Penn State defeated No. 3 Maryland, 7-6, in women's lacrosse yesterday in University Park, Pa. Maryland (9-2) was led by Michele Uhlfelder, who had two goals and two assists. Deanna Blood and Mary Ann Foley each had two goals for the Lions (9-1).

*Sophomore attackman Katie Aman, a graduate of Notre Dame Prep, scored eight goals and assisted on another to lead Franklin & Marshall (6-0) to an 18-1 defeat of Widener yesterday.

Hockey

The San Jose Sharks, who begin play next next season as the National Hockey League's 22nd franchise, scheduled a news conference for today amid speculation that George Kingston will be named their coach. Kingston, the long-time coach at the University of Calgary, co-ordinated the hockey tournament at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation recruited him in the summer of 1989 to revamp its hockey program for the 1992 Winter Games.